NEW DELHI: Permission given to 20 FM channels have been revoked by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for various reasons.

Clearly waiting for Phase III, no new FM channel has been launched in the country over the past 18 months. There are 245 private FM channels presently operational in the country.

Of the channels that were revoked, nine belonged to Century Communications, eight to Pan India Network Infravest, two to Kushal Global, and one to Singla Properties.

While the majority of these were refused because the channels were not operationalised within the prescribed time, the others commenced but after some time remained non-operational for a period of more than six months.

While the Government gave permission to 266 channels including the 20 revoked later, one could not be operationalised in Aizawl in Mizoram as the Common Transmission Infrastructure is not yet ready.

Under the Grant of Permission Agreement, the channels are expected to commence operations within one year of such agreement.

This was the purpose of a notification issued recently to all registered radio and television channels to give their latest operational status.